A Day Out (Thanks to Muzhizhi for the Love Power-Up)

The three strolled leisurely to the Leaky Cauldron on the edge of the village, intending to go in and rest, when they heard a commotion inside. Pushing open the wooden door, they immediately encountered a familiar figure— Callis Selwyn was standing in front of the bar, coldly confronting several drunken local Muggle-born wizards.

The once elegant and poised woman was now completely devoid of her usual gentle and obedient demeanor. Her long, dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, her almond-shaped eyes widened, and she retorted rapidly, her face full of disdain. "Watch your mouth. Don't spout such vulgarities in front of Hogwarts students. Do you really think no one can handle you?"

The incident began when a few street thugs, seeing Callis in her exquisite Slytherin robes, made lewd remarks and mocked the arrogance of the Pure-blood families, thoroughly enraging the already cunning and vengeful Callis. Although she was skilled in prank magic, she was outnumbered and the situation became tense, with the thugs even raising their hands to unleash a curse.

In the instant the change occurred, three figures stepped out from the shadows in the corner of the bar: Draco Malfoy, Theodore Nott, and Blaise Zabini.

Blaise stepped forward first, blocking Callis's path. He wore his usual lazy smile, but his eyes were filled with coldness. His tone was flippant yet brimming with threat. "Gentlemen, it's not a respectable thing to lay a hand on a lady."

Draco raised an eyebrow slightly, his face cold, and a faint magical fluctuation instantly emanated from his body. Almost simultaneously with Theodore Nott, he drew his wand. Without any further reprimands or incantations, he simply flicked his fingertips, and an ancient and domineering magical power suddenly exploded.

Before the ringleader could even scream, he was violently lifted up by an invisible force and slammed into a nearby wooden table. The table shattered with a crack, and before he could get up, Ancient Magic once again slammed him against a stone wall, then flung him against a glass on the bar, scattering shards of liquor everywhere. The other two were terrified and tried to turn and run, but they were bound by invisible ropes, being tossed and turned violently one after another, leaving them dizzy and disheveled.

In no time, the group was bruised and battered, their clothes torn, lying on the ground groaning in pain.

Blaise flicked the tip of his wand, and the last wisp of Ancient Magic fell. The bodies of the still-shouting guys twisted, accompanied by a few bleating cries, and they were transformed into several filthy sheep, running around the bar in panic.

Draco snorted coldly, put away his wand, and said arrogantly, "A bunch of ignorant fools, daring to lay a hand on Slytherin students in Hogsmeade?"

Callis, standing beside Blaise, instantly suppressed her anger, a sly smile flashing in her eyes. She leaned closer to Blaise and whispered, "You arrived just in time. I was planning to use Confundus Charm to tease them a bit; this saves us a lot of trouble."

Blaise looked down at her with a smile, raised his hand and gently tapped her forehead, his tone languid yet protective. "So you don't get your hands dirty."

Then, turning to the others, he said in a calm but undeniable tone, "Get out of here, all of you. Take these sheep with you, and don't let us see them again." The onlookers turned pale with fright and scrambled out of the Leaky Cauldron, clutching a flock of sheep.

As the chaos in the bar gradually subsided, everyone scrambled to clean up the mess and scrambled away. No one noticed that in the dark shadows behind the bar, an inconspicuous Goblin huddled in a crevice between wooden barrels, watching the whole thing unfold without moving.

He didn't make a sound, but his eyes, which had seemed dull before, lit up slightly when they saw the Silencio yet incredibly powerful Ancient Magic.

Once he was sure no one was watching him, he slipped out of the Leaky Cauldron like a shadow, hugging the corner of the wall.

Once out of the crowd, he quickened his pace, deliberately choosing secluded alleys to avoid all the students and wizards, hurrying towards the depths of the village.

The conflict subsided quickly. Su Yu, Hermione, and Daphne stepped forward. Daphne looked at Callis and asked softly if she was hurt. Callis immediately regained her elegant demeanor, smiling and waving her hand to indicate that she was alright, but there was still a hint of regret in her eyes that her prank had not gone through.

Seeing that the farce had subsided, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Su Yu turned to look at Malfoy, Theodore, and Blaise, and said with a half-smile:

"You three are quite carefree, coming to the Leaky Cauldron together. Draco, don't you even know who you're standing next to? Do Pansy and Astoria know you're out and about like this? And Theodore, does Olivia even care about you?"

Upon hearing this, Draco paused, his previously arrogant expression softening slightly. He coughed lightly, turned his face away, and, feigning composure, adjusted the collar of his robe, still trying to maintain his composure. "Master, I just happened to run into them; I didn't intentionally hide anything." His slightly embarrassed demeanor completely lacked the coldness he had displayed when casting the spell.

Theodore, who was usually indifferent and taciturn, had a faint blush creeping up his ears. He pursed his lips and uttered only a faint "There's nothing wrong with it," but subconsciously avoided Su Yu's gaze, revealing a rare awkwardness.

Blaise watched with amusement, arms crossed, unable to hide his smile.

Daphne, Hermione, and Callis, who were standing nearby, couldn't help but chuckle. Callis's eyes lit up immediately, and she leaned in quickly, bombarding him with questions with a gossipy look. The atmosphere instantly shifted from the tense confrontation to a noisy and relaxed one.

They found a quiet spot by the window and sat down. Hermione ordered a few warm Butterbeer, which were steaming slightly from the rims. They were sweet and mellow with a subtle malty aroma, which dispelled the chill of autumn.

Hermione held the warm wine glass, her face full of satisfaction. The unpleasantness from her earlier argument with Ron had long since vanished. She smiled and chatted with Su Yu and the others about interesting things at school. When they talked about Professor Trelawney's absurd Prophecy in Divination, she still couldn't help but purse her lips in disagreement. Callis also quietly echoed her, occasionally offering a few unique opinions. The three girls chatted happily together.

Afterwards, the three of them strolled through the alleys of Hogsmeade, passing shops filled with magical trinkets. They would occasionally stop to admire the exquisite witch's hats and jeweled necklaces displayed in the windows. When they passed Zonko's Joke Shop, they avoided the students playing outside and simply Earth Flow quietly. Daphne was very attentive throughout, constantly watching Hermione's mood and quietly noting down any little items Hermione liked. Hermione, on the other hand, was excited the whole time. This was the first time she had leisurely shopped with Su Yu and Daphne, and she radiated ease and joy.

As the sun gradually set, golden sunlight spilled onto the stone paths of Hogsmeade, bathing the entire village in a gentle glow. The three of them slowly walked back along the same path, carrying carefully selected sweets and books. They chatted and laughed all the way, a gentle evening breeze carrying their contentment and joy. This trip to Hogsmeade, which belonged to the three of them, was simple yet exceptionally heartwarming.

The next day, Sunday morning, just as dawn was breaking and there weren't many people in the Slytherin Common Room, Kurama was already darting around energetically. She had spent the whole day happily shopping with Fa-jie and Ka-jie.

However, it now wears a sparkling, exquisitely crafted magic necklace around its neck, the gems shimmering in the dim light of the fireplace, clearly worth a fortune.

The little guy deliberately strolled slowly back and forth between the long table and the sofa, as if afraid that others wouldn't see its new accessory, its tail held high.

Callis caught a glimpse of it as soon as she entered, her eyes lighting up instantly. She quickly moved closer, exclaiming in rapid succession, "Wow! What a beautiful necklace! Kurama, it looks amazing on you!"

Astoria, standing beside her, smiled gently and crouched down to examine her closely. "It really suits you; the design is exceptionally exquisite."

Praised by the two, Kurama- Tails wagged its tail even more enthusiastically, tilting its head back and proudly showing off. "Of course it looks good! I bought it in Hogsmeade yesterday! A full 5,000 Galleon! Isn't that awesome?"

"Hogsmeade?" Callis was taken aback, then immediately asked curiously, "Where did you get the money to buy this?"

Without any psychological burden, the Kurama said loudly and confidently:

"I took it from Malfoy's drawer! He has a lot of piggy banks in his drawer, I just grabbed one and bought it!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the Slytherin common room, which had just quieted down, fell into an eerie silence.

Daphne, who had just walked over with a teacup in her hand, paused. Su Yu choked on his tea, and even several Slytherin students passing by froze in their tracks.

No one expected that this little guy, while showing off his new necklace, would end up betraying Malfoy.

"Hey, why didn't you say so sooner! I'll do the same next time!" Blaise laughed, not wanting to miss out on the fun Earth Flow, and sat down next to Callis.

"This is theft!" Su Yu reached out and grabbed the Kurama Fox by the scruff of its neck, lifting it up without saying a word. He then slapped its round buttocks hard a few times.

The little guy immediately wilted and whimpered softly.

Just then, Draco Malfoy strolled out from the direction of the dormitory, neatly dressed and looking languid, as if he had just woken up and was about to have breakfast. He glanced at the crowd gathered around him and saw Su Yu carrying Kurama, his face blank, completely unaware of what was happening.

"Chief? What's wrong?"

Su Yu handed the Kurama to him and said in a calm tone:

"Apologize to Malfoy."

Kurama Rascal, his ears drooping, reluctantly muttered to Malfoy, "I'm... I'm sorry..."

Malfoy was even more confused, frowning and looking utterly bewildered. "Apologize? Apologize for what?"

Su Yu didn't explain much. With a slight flick of his finger, he counted out five thousand Galleon from his Storage Ring and neatly piled them on the stone table next to him with a "clatter," gleaming with golden light.

"It took the money from your drawer without permission and bought a necklace in Hogsmeade. Consider this 5,000 Galleon as compensation."

Draco stood there, mouth agape, before finally reacting after a long pause.

He had so much money at home that he couldn't even count it all. He'd never even notice a few Galleon disappearing from his drawers before. Now, looking at the huge pile of gold coins in front of him, and then at Kurama cowering in Su Yu's hand with a pitiful expression, he was completely bewildered, thinking, "Who am I? Where am I? I lost money?" He kept saying, "It's okay, it's okay, Kurama can just take it and spend it, it's not a big deal..."

As dusk completely enveloped Hogwarts Castle, the magical atmosphere of Halloween spread freely along the castle corridors. When Su Yu led the Slytherin group into the Great Hall, everyone was captivated by the scene before them.

The once spacious and magnificent Hogwarts Great Hall had been completely transformed into a Halloween extravaganza. The ceiling was no longer the clear starry sky of everyday life, but shrouded in inky blackness. Countless pumpkin lanterns hung in mid-air, their warm orange light flickering. The lanterns were carved with all sorts of ghostly faces, some grinning wickedly, others squinting mischievously. The flickering light and shadow cast a mysterious yet lively filter over the entire Great Hall.

The stone pillars surrounding the Great Hall are entwined with mistletoe in shades of deep green and orange-red, along with Halloween wreaths. Dried golden ears of wheat and spiky black berries dot the landscape, while strings of silver magic lights sway gently in the breeze, scattering dappled light. Giant pumpkins of varying heights, each exquisitely sculpted, sit in the corners, their vines winding along the ground. Occasionally, tiny fluorescent butterflies flutter out from among the vines, circle the tables once, and then quietly disappear.

The four long tables in the academy were polished to a shine, decorated with black and orange ribbons along the edges. The original white plates had been replaced with magical plates engraved with pumpkin patterns. Blue and orange-red magic candles burned quietly in the candlesticks, their flames offering no warmth but instead exuding the eerie romance unique to Halloween. The air was filled with the sweet aroma of roasted pumpkin, cinnamon, honey cake, and mulled wine, mingled with a faint scent of magical flowers, immersing everyone in the rich festive atmosphere even before they sat down.

At the top of the Great Hall, little ghosts draped in black cloaks drifted by slowly, while a mischievous Peeves, carrying a bag of pumpkin candies, Accio in mid-air, occasionally scattering colorful candies that elicited gasps of surprise from the younger students. Above the High Table, the professors were already seated in their seats. Dumbledore, dressed in a purple robe embroidered with pumpkin patterns, wore a gentle smile. The Great Hall possessed both the mysterious charm of Halloween and a warm, lively banquet atmosphere, exuding the unique magical romance of Hogwarts.

Kurama nestled on the table beside Su Yu, still wearing its exquisite magic necklace. Completely devoid of its morning smugness, it was now completely absorbed in its food. Its paws gripped the edge of the table, its little head buried in its special cheesecake, occasionally nibbling on sweet pumpkin cookies and soft cream pudding. Its cheeks were round and full, and its tail would lightly sweep across the table from time to time, clearly enjoying itself immensely. Every now and then, it would look up at Su Yu with its wet eyes, softly whimpering for more dessert.

Daphne sat with a dignified and elegant posture, her movements with the knife and fork gentle and graceful. She carefully cut the not-too-sweet fresh fruit on the plate into pieces and slowly pushed them in front of Kurama. Her movements were gentle and meticulous, and her eyes and brows exuded a gentle temperament. She remained quiet and proper throughout the entire process.

Halfway through the banquet, the noise in the Great Hall showed no signs of abating. Hermione, carrying her books, walked through the bustling crowd and went straight to Su Yu's side, her expression showing a mixture of urgency and worry.

She first politely nodded slightly to Daphne, Ka-jie, and Fa-jie at the table, then stood beside Su Yu, lowered her voice, and said with a tone full of conflict and dissatisfaction, "Su Yu, I..."

Su Yu gestured for her to sit down before continuing the conversation. Kurama was munching on a cookie, glanced at Hermione, then buried himself in his food, completely undisturbed.

"Su Yu, Harry just told me something very unsettling. When he was in Professor Lupin's office, Snape brought him a potion and watched Professor Lupin drink it. Harry is convinced Snape wanted to poison him, but I think... even if he really wanted to harm Lupin, he would never do it in front of Harry; it would be too easy to expose him."

Her brows were furrowed as she analyzed the situation clearly and logically, her tone both calm and conflicted:

"But I can't be completely at ease. Snape has always been hostile towards Lupin, and nobody can really say what his intentions are. That potion smelled very bitter, and Lupin even shuddered when he drank it. I have a feeling something's wrong, but I can't find any evidence, and I don't know what kind of potion it was. What if there really is a problem..."

Hermione paused, her voice even softer:

"I wanted to remind Professor Lupin to be careful, but I was afraid that I was overthinking things and making a mountain out of a molehill. The whole banquet is so lively right now, but I just can't get this matter out of my mind."

Hermione had just finished expressing her doubts and worries, her brows still furrowed, looking as if she couldn't let it go.

Seeing her nervous appearance, Su Yu suddenly reached out and gently flicked her forehead with his knuckles.

"Aren't you silly to think so much?"

He spoke softly, with a hint of helpless indulgence, "Snape wouldn't harm Lupin, don't scare yourself."

Hermione was startled by the flick, instinctively covering her forehead, and asked, even more confused, "But he clearly hates Lupin so much, what if that potion..."

"There's no 'what if'," Su Yu interrupted her gently, revealing no secret, his tone firm and reassuring.

"He may look fierce and unapproachable, but he would never do something so despicable."

He leaned slightly forward, his voice softening:

"Trust me, it's okay. Stop overthinking and eat your food."

After saying that, he casually ruffled Hermione's hair.

Hermione felt a sudden weight lift from her heart after hearing his words, and her doubts faded considerably. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she could only nod and not press the matter further.

Kurama's mouth was covered in sugar frosting, and his little tail swished back and forth, completely ignoring the conversation between the two.